Collaborative HRM and Firm Performance: The Role of Employee Intra-organizational Social Networks

Abstract

Drawing on the knowledge-based view of the firm and the social network perspective, we examined relationships among collaborative human resource management (HRM), climate for cooperation, employee intra-organizational social networks, and firm performance, using the survey data from high tech companies located in Zhongguancun, China's Silicon Valley (n=55). Our results show that collaborative HRM and employees' intra- organizational social networks are positively related to firm performance (Return on Personnel Expense), and this relationship is mediated by employees' intra-organizational social networks. We also found that the relationship between collaborative HRM and employees' intra-organizational social networks is mediated by the climate for cooperation.